Czechia ranks ahead of Germany and Estonia in digital independence study

Czechia is less dependent on foreign digital technology than Germany, Estonia and most European countries included in a new international study, despite Europe’s overall reliance growing.

Researchers at the University of Bonn’s Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies, working with the Vodafone Institute, ranked Czechia 13th among 51 economies in their Digital Dependence Index.

Czechia scored 0.62 on a scale where zero represents complete independence and one represents complete dependence. The European average was 0.69. The findings cover 2010–2023, rather than measuring changes through this year.

The study examines four areas: hardware trade, IT services, software platforms and technology patents. It assesses reliance on foreign technology rather than the quality of online public services or people’s digital skills.

Czechia’s position ahead of Estonia, widely associated with digital government, therefore reflects a different measure of technological capacity and dependence.

The United States ranked as the most digitally autonomous economy, scoring 0.38. Ireland followed at 0.40, while China placed fourth with 0.43.

Among the 16 European countries studied, only Ireland and Serbia ranked ahead of Czechia. Serbia finished 11th overall.

The broader trend was less favorable for Europe. Its average dependence increased by 0.5 percentage points between 2010 and 2023, while China reduced its dependence by 10.8 percentage points and the United States by six percentage points.

Researchers argue that Europe needs clearer priorities, investment and coordination to strengthen its own capabilities while managing its reliance on overseas suppliers.

Europe’s overall score conceals substantial differences between sectors.

Its average dependence stood at 0.42 for services and 0.59 for hardware, but reached 0.98 for platforms and 0.99 for patents—close to complete dependence under the index’s measures.

The researchers also warn against taking favorable headline figures at face value, highlighting what they call the “Ireland effect.”

Many large U.S. technology companies base European operations in Ireland, partly for tax reasons. Their presence improves Ireland’s statistical position without necessarily indicating European ownership or control of the technology.

Removing Ireland from the figures turns Europe’s digital-services trade surplus for 2022–2024 into a deficit of approximately $350 billion, according to the analysis.

The authors’ proposed responses include strengthening critical positions in global supply chains, investing in European platforms and infrastructure, reducing technological vulnerabilities and diversifying suppliers.

As the Vodafone Institute’s summary emphasizes, the aim is greater resilience and freedom to choose technology partners, rather than cutting Europe off from international trade.